Boundary scheme for semiconductor integrated circuit and method for forming an integrated circuit

ABSTRACT

An integrated circuit includes a substrate having a first region and a second region, a first isolation structure disposed in the substrate and separating the first region from the second region, a first device disposed in the first region, a second device disposed in the second region, and a semiconductor dummy structure disposed on the first isolation structure. The first isolation structure has first top surface and a second top surface lower than the first top surface. The semiconductor dummy structure covers a portion of the first top surface, a portion of the second top surface and a boundary between the first top surface and the second top surface.

BACKGROUND

In the semiconductor art, it is desirable to improve transistorperformance as devices become smaller due to ongoing reductions indevice scale. Further, it is desirable to manufacture integrated circuit(“IC”) semiconductor devices that incorporate transistors for low, highand sometimes medium voltage range applications in a single integratedcircuit. For example, transistors for logic functions, which operate atrelatively low voltages, and transistors for high power applications,which operate at relatively high voltages, may be designed andfabricated on the same IC.

The transistors operating in two different voltage ranges are located ondifferent regions of the IC, and use of shallow trench isolation (STI)is a typical approach that allows the regions for various types oftransistors to be integrated onto the IC by creating electricallyisolated regions within a single substrate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Aspects of the present disclosure are best understood from the followingdetailed description when read with the accompanying figures. It isnoted that, in accordance with the standard practice in the industry,various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of thevarious features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity ofdiscussion.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart representing a method for forming an integratedcircuit according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 2A to 2M are cross-sectional views illustrating stages of a methodfor forming an integrated circuit according to aspects of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 3 is a top view illustrating an integrated circuit layout structureaccording to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a top view illustrating an integrated circuit layout structureaccording to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an integrated circuitaccording to aspects of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following disclosure provides many different embodiments, orexamples, for implementing different features of the provided subjectmatter. Specific examples of components and arrangements are describedbelow to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merelyexamples and are not intended to be limiting. For example, the formationof a first feature over or on a second feature in the description thatfollows may include embodiments in which the first and second featuresare formed in direct contact, and may also include embodiments in whichadditional features may be formed between the first and second features,such that the first and second features may not be in direct contact. Inaddition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/orletters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose ofsimplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationshipbetween the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed.

This description of illustrative embodiments is intended to be read inconnection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be consideredpart of the entire written description. In the description ofembodiments disclosed herein, any reference to direction or orientationis merely intended for convenience of description and is not intended inany way to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Relative termssuch as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “above,” “below,”“up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivatives thereof (e.g.,“horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed torefer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawingunder discussion. These relative terms are for convenience ofdescription only and do not require that the apparatus be constructed oroperated in a particular orientation. Terms such as “attached,”“affixed,” “connected” and “interconnected,” refer to a relationshipwherein structures are secured or attached to one another eitherdirectly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as bothmovable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expresslydescribed otherwise. Moreover, the features and benefits of thedisclosure are illustrated by reference to the embodiments. Accordingly,the disclosure expressly should not be limited to such embodimentsillustrating some possible non-limiting combination of features that mayexist alone or in other combinations of features; the scope of thedisclosure being defined by the claims appended hereto.

Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forththe broad scope of the disclosure are approximations, the numericalvalues set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely aspossible. Any numerical value, however, inherently contains certainerrors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in therespective testing measurements. Also, as used herein, the terms“substantially,” “approximately” or “about” generally mean within avalue or range that can be contemplated by people having ordinary skillin the art. Alternatively, the terms “substantially,” “approximately” or“about” mean within an acceptable standard error of the mean whenconsidered by one of ordinary skill in the art. People having ordinaryskill in the art can understand that the acceptable standard error mayvary according to different technologies. Other than in theoperating/working examples, or unless otherwise expressly specified, allof the numerical ranges, amounts, values and percentages such as thosefor quantities of materials, durations of times, temperatures, operatingconditions, ratios of amounts, and the likes thereof disclosed hereinshould be understood as modified in all instances by the terms“substantially,” “approximately” or “about.” Accordingly, unlessindicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in thepresent disclosure and attached claims are approximations that can varyas desired. At the very least, each numerical parameter should beconstrued in light of the number of reported significant digits and byapplying ordinary rounding techniques. Ranges can be expressed herein asbeing from one endpoint to another endpoint or between two endpoints.All ranges disclosed herein are inclusive of the endpoints, unlessspecified otherwise.

Silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate has been widely used insemiconductor manufacturing operations. Due to the advantages providedby SOL such as low parasitic capacitance, lower noise, less shortchannel effect and better swing performance, high-voltage (HV) devicescan be embedded with SOI technology for integration with HV devices andlow-voltage (LV) devices.

Further, high-k metal gate (HKMG) technology is expected to play animportant role in the next generation of CMOS devices. This technologyincorporates a high-k dielectric, which reduces leakage and improves thedielectric constant. To help with fermi-level pinning and to allow thegate to be adjusted to low threshold voltages, a metal gate is usedinstead of a polysilicon gate. By combining the metal gate and high-kdielectric, HKMG technology reduces gate leakage, thereby increasing thetransistor capacitance and allowing chips to function with reduced powerneeds. Thus, integrating HV and LV devices with HKMG is a technologythat enables conventional scaling of the transistor as well as reductionin required stand-by power due to a reduction in gate leakage.

However, research has found that when integrating the HV device with theHKMG technology can cause, high-k dielectric residue at a boundarybetween the LV device and the HV device. The high-k dielectric residuemay cause a contamination during the subsequent manufacturingoperations.

The present disclosure therefore provides a boundary scheme for theintegration of HV devices and LV devices with HKMG technology. In someembodiments, the present disclosure therefore provides a boundary schemefor the integration of HV devices and LV devices with high-k first andmetal-gate last technology. In some embodiments, a dummy structure suchas a dummy polysilicon structure can be disposed on the boundary betweena region accommodating the HV devices and a region accommodating the LVdevices. The dummy structure is provided to entirely seal the high-kdielectric residue that is generated during manufacturing operations,and thus the high-k residue contamination can be mitigated.

In some embodiments, the high voltage (HV) devices used herein arereferred to as devices, such as integrated circuit die input/output(I/O) devices, that generally have operating voltages greater than thoseof logic devices. For example, HV devices can have operating voltagesgreater than approximately 2.5 volts, while the logic devices can haveoperating voltages less than approximately 1.2 volts. In someembodiments, logic devices that have relatively low operating voltagesare referred to as LV devices. However, operating voltages can vary fordifferent applications, thus they are not limited herein.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart representing a method for forming an integratedcircuit 10 according to aspects of the present disclosure. The method 10includes a number of operations (101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108,109 and 110). The method 10 will be further described according to oneor more embodiments. It should be noted that the operations of themethod 10 may be rearranged or otherwise modified within the scope ofthe various aspects. It should be further noted that additionalprocesses may be provided before, during, and after the method 10, andthat some other processes may be only briefly described herein. Thus,other implementations are possible within the scope of the variousaspects described herein.

FIGS. 2A to 2M are cross-sectional views illustrating stages of a methodfor forming an integrated circuit according to aspects of the presentdisclosure. At operation 101, a substrate 200 having a first region 202a, a second region 202 b and an isolation structure 210 separating thefirst region 202 a from the second region 202 b is received or provided.In some embodiments, the first region 202 a can be used to accommodateLV devices such as logic devices, while the second region 202 b can beused to accommodate HV devices such as I/O devices, but the disclosureis not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the isolation structure 210is formed to surround the first region 202 a and the second region 202 bsuch that at least a portion of the isolation structure 210 is disposedbetween the first region 202 a and the second region 202 b, as shown inFIG. 2A. Accordingly, the first region 202 a and the second region 202 bare electrically separated from each other by the isolation structure210. In some embodiments, the isolation structure 210 can be a shallowtrench isolation (STI), but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

In some embodiments, the substrate 200 can be a silicon-on-insulator(SOI) substrate. As shown in FIG. 2A, the substrate 200 can include asemiconductor bulk 204, a semiconductor layer 208 and a dielectric layer206 disposed between the semiconductor bulk 204 and the semiconductorlayer 208. In some embodiments, the semiconductor layer 208 can includea semiconductor material such as silicon, germanium, silicon germanium,or combinations thereof, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. Insome embodiments, the dielectric layer 206 may be, for example, a buriedoxide (BOX) layer or a silicon oxide layer, but the disclosure is notlimited thereto. In some embodiments, the semiconductor bulk 204 caninclude silicon, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. In otherembodiments, substrates that may be used include multi-layeredsubstrates, gradient substrates, or hybrid orientation substrates. Insome embodiments, a sum of a thickness of the semiconductor layer 208and a thickness of the dielectric layer 206 can be between approximately200 angstroms and approximately 50 angstroms, but the disclosure is notlimited thereto. In some embodiments, devices formed over the SOIsubstrate can be referred to as SOI devices. In addition to the abilityto retain low intra-well and inter-well leakage currents, the dielectriclayer 206 also permits smaller distance for isolation spacing, thuspermitting increased packing density. Additional advantages of SOIdevices with respect to bulk devices include: reduced soft errorsensitivity, improved turn-on characteristic, reduced leakage current,and improved reliability by eliminating junction spiking.

At operation 102, a portion of the substrate 200 is removed such thatthe second region 202 b is recessed, and a portion of the isolationstructure 210 is removed such that the isolation structure 210 obtains afirst top surface 212 a, a second top surface 212 b lower than the firsttop surface 212 a, and a boundary between the first top surface 212 aand the second top surface 212 b. As shown in FIG. 2B, in someembodiments, a patterned mask 211 such as a patterned photoresist can beformed over the substrate 200. A suitable etching operation can beperformed to remove a portion of the substrate 200 in the second region202 b and a portion of the isolation structure 210 exposed through thepatterned mask 211. In some embodiments, a portion of the semiconductorlayer 208 and a portion of the dielectric layer 206 in the second region202 b are removed, such that the semiconductor bulk 204 is exposed. Inother embodiments, a portion of the semiconductor layer 208, a portionof the dielectric layer 206 and a portion of the semiconductor bulk 204in the second region 202 b are removed. Consequently, a recessed secondregion 202 b′ is obtained as shown in FIG. 2B.

Further, the portion of the isolation structure 210 exposed through thepatterned mask 211 is removed, wherein a thickness of the removedportion of the isolation structure 210 is similar to a thickness of theremoved portion of the substrate 200. Consequently, the isolationstructure 210 obtains a first top surface 212 a, a second top surface212 b and a boundary between the first top surface 212 a and the secondtop surface 212 b. The second top surface 212 b is lower than the firsttop surface 212 a. Further, the first top surface 212 a of the isolationstructure 210 and a top surface of the substrate 200 in the first region202 a are aligned with each other, or are at the same level, while thesecond top surface 212 b of the isolation structure 210 and a topsurface of the substrate 200 in the second region 202 b′ are alignedwith each other, or are at the same level. As shown in FIG. 2B, a stepheight H is formed at the boundary between the first top surface 212 aand the second top surface 212 b of the isolation structure 210. In someembodiments, the step height H can be equal to or greater than thethickness of the removed portion of the substrate 200. For example, whenthe etching operation is performed to remove the portion of thesemiconductor layer 208 and the portion of the dielectric layer 206 inthe second region 202W, the step height H is equal to or greater thanthe sum of the thickness of the semiconductor layer 208 and thethickness of the dielectric layer 206, such as between approximately 200angstroms and approximately 500 angstroms, but the disclosure is notlimited thereto. The patterned mask 211 can then be removed.

As shown in FIG. 2C, in some embodiments, a sacrificial insulating layer213 is formed to completely cover the substrate 200. After the formingof the sacrificial insulating layer 213, a well region 220 can be formedin the substrate 200 in the second region 202W. In some embodiments, animplantation and an anneal can be performed on the semiconductor bulk204 in the second region 202W. Consequently, the well region 220 isobtained. In some embodiments, the sacrificial insulating layer 213helps to protect the substrate 200 in the first region 202 a and theisolation structure 210 and to mitigate an outgassing issue during theforming of the well region 220. In some embodiments using an n-type HVdevice, the well region 220 can have n-type dopants. In someembodiments, the well region 220 can be referred to as a drift region.In some embodiments, the drift region is between a device channel (e.g.,under a gate structure to be formed) and a drain region to be formed.The drift region is configured to provide a high device breakdownvoltage and protection from hot-carrier injection (HCl).

Referring to FIG. 2D, after the forming of the well region 220, a bodyregion 222 is formed. The body region 222 can be disposed in the wellregion 220. In embodiments using an n-type HV device, the body region222 can have p-type dopants that are opposite to that of the well region220. In some embodiments, a body contact region (not shown) can beformed in the body region 222. The body contact region can have the sametype of dopants as the body region 222. The body contact region canprovide an electrical connection for the body region 222. It should beunderstood that the locations of the well region 220 and the body region222 (and the body contact region) shown in FIG. 2D are merely exemplary,and one having skill in the art can modify them to achieve a desired HVdevice.

Still referring to FIG. 2D, after the forming of the body region 222, awell region 224 is formed in the substrate 200 in the first region 202a. In some embodiments, the well region 224 is formed in thesemiconductor layer 208 in the first region 202 a. In other embodiments,the well region 224 is formed in both of the semiconductor layer 208 andthe semiconductor bulk 204. Additionally, depending on the type of theLV device to be formed, the well region 224 can include n-type or p-typedopants. In some embodiments, a well implantation is performed, and thesacrificial insulating layer 213 is subsequently removed. Before theremoving of the sacrificial insulating layer 213, an anneal isperformed. Consequently, the well region 224 for the LV device isobtained.

At operation 103, a high-k gate dielectric layer 228 is formed over thesubstrate 200. In some embodiments, prior to the forming of the high-kgate dielectric layer 228, an interfacial layer (IL) 226 can be formedon the substrate 200. One example of the IL 226 is a thin silicon oxidelayer. In some embodiments, the thin silicon oxide layer can be formedby thermal oxidation. In other embodiments, the thin silicon oxide layercan be formed by atomic layer deposition (ALD). When the thermaloxidation is utilized to form the IL 226, the IL 226 is formed only on atop surface of the semiconductor material. Therefore, the IL 226 isformed on the semiconductor layer 208 in the first region 202 a and onthe semiconductor bulk 204 in the second region 202W, while theisolation structure 210 is free of the IL 226, as shown in FIG. 2E. Inother words, the IL 226 is formed on the well region 224 in the firstregion 202 a and on the drift region 220 and the body region 222 in thesecond region 202 b′. It has been observed that the IL 226 may provide aremedy for some high-k dielectric gate stack integration issues, such ascarrier trapping by HK and carrier mobility reduction. The IL 226 mayalso be important as a diffusion barrier to prevent undesirableinterface reactions between the HK dielectric material and the substrate200.

Still referring to FIG. 2E, the high-k gate dielectric layer 228 can beformed on the IL 226 by ALD, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), metalorganic CVD (MOCVD), physical vapor deposition (PVD), thermal oxidation,combinations thereof, or other suitable techniques. In some embodiments,the high-k gate dielectric layer 228 may include a binary or ternaryhigh-k film such as HfO_(X). In some embodiments, the high-k gatedielectric layer 228 may include high-k material such as LaO, AlO, ZrO,TiO, Ta₂O₅, U₂O₃, SiTiO₃ (STO), BaTiO₃ (BTO), BaZrO, HfZrO, HfLaO,HfSiO, LaSiO, AlSiO, HfTaO, HfTiO, (Ba,Sr)TiO₃ (BST), Al₂O₃, Si₃N₄,oxynitrides, or other suitable materials.

At operation 104, a semiconductor layer 230 is formed on the high-k gatedielectric layer 228. In some embodiments, the semiconductor layer 230can be a polysilicon layer disposed over the high-k gate dielectriclayer 228 by deposition techniques. In other embodiments, thesemiconductor layer 230 can be an amorphous silicon layer.

At operation 105, the semiconductor layer 230 and the high-k gatedielectric layer 228 are patterned to form a first sacrificial gate 232a in the first region 202 a, a second sacrificial gate 232 b in thesecond region 202 b′ and a dummy structure 232 c on the isolationstructure 210. As shown in FIG. 2F, a patterned hard mask 231 is formedover the semiconductor layer 230 to define locations and dimensions ofthe sacrificial gates, and an etching operation is performed to removeportions of the semiconductor layer 230 and the high-k gate dielectriclayer 228. Consequently, the first sacrificial gate 232 a is formed inthe first region 202 a, the second sacrificial gate 232 b is formed inthe second region 202W, and the dummy structure 232 c is obtained.Further, the dummy structure 232 c covers a portion of the first topsurface 212 a of the isolation structure 210, a portion of the secondtop surface 212 b of the isolation structure 210, and a boundary betweenthe first top surface 212 a and the second top surface 212 b, as shownin FIG. 2F. In some embodiments, thicknesses of the first sacrificialgate 232 a, the second sacrificial gate 232 b and the dummy structure232 c are similar.

In some comparative embodiments, the semiconductor layer 230 and thehigh-k gate dielectric layer 228 over the isolation structure 210 areremoved. However, it is found the high-k material at the boundarybetween the first top surface 212 a and the second top surface 212 b maynot be removed completely due to the step height H. Further, the high-kresidue may cause contamination issue in the subsequent manufacturingoperations. In some comparative embodiments, the high-k gate dielectriclayer may be over-etched in order to remove the high-k material from theboundary. However, it is found that the high-k gate dielectric layerunder the sacrificial gate suffers from damage and a reliability issueis raised. In contrast to those comparative embodiments, the dummystructure 232 c is formed over the boundary of the first top surface 212a and the second top surface 212 b, and therefore the high-k material(i.e., the high-k gate dielectric layer 228) is entirely covered by thesemiconductor layer 230 of the dummy structure 232 c.

Further, a width of the dummy structure 232 c is greater thanapproximately 2 times a minimum critical dimension of the integratedcircuit. It should be understood that the critical dimension (or thedesign rule limitation) defines the minimum width of a line or theminimum space between two lines permitted in the fabrication of adevice. It should be noted that if the width of the dummy structure 230c is less than 2 times the minimum critical dimension of the integratedcircuit, the high-k material may be left over the boundary between thefirst top surface 212 a and the second top surface 212 b when the dummystructure 232 c is offset from the boundary due to process variationsuch as misalignment. Thus, the unwanted high-k residue issue occurs.

Referring to FIG. 2G, in some embodiments, a spacer 234 is formed oversidewalls of each of the first sacrificial gate 232 a, the secondsacrificial gate 232 b and the dummy structure 232 c. As shown in FIG.2F, the spacer 234 covers sidewalls of the patterned hard masks 231, thesemiconductor layers 230, the high-k gate dielectric layers 228 and theILs 226 of the first sacrificial gate 232 a and the second sacrificialgate 232 b. The spacer 234 also covers sidewalls of the patterned hardmask 231, the semiconductor layer 230 and the high-k gate dielectriclayer 228 of the dummy structure 232 c. Therefore, the high-k gatedielectric layer 228 over the boundary between the first top surface 212a and the second top surface 212 b can be entirely enclosed within thesemiconductor layer 230 and the spacer 234 of the dummy structure 232 c,as shown in FIG. 2G. In some embodiments, the spacers 234 can be amultiple layered structure. For example, the spacers 234 can be anoxide-nitride (ON) structure including a silicon nitride sealing layer234 a in contact with the ILs 226, the high-k gate dielectric layer 228,the semiconductor layers 230, and a silicon oxide layer 234 b coveringthe silicon nitride sealing layer 234 a, but the disclosure is notlimited thereto.

Still referring to FIG. 2G, after the forming of the spacers 234, dopedregions 236 a and 236 b are formed in the substrate 200. The dopedregions 236 a and 236 b serve as a source region and a drain region,respectively. In some embodiments, in the first region 202 a, the dopedregions 236 a and 236 b are respectively formed in the substrate at twosides of the first sacrificial gate 232 a. In some embodiments, in thesecond region 202 b, the doped regions 236 a and 236 b are formed in thebody region 222 and the drift region 220, respectively. For example, asshown in FIG. 2G, the doped region 236 a is formed in the body region222 while the doped region 236 b is formed in the drift region 220 andseparated from the dummy structure 232 b by the drift region 220.Accordingly, at operation 106, a first device 240 a is formed in thefirst region 202 a, a second device 240 b is formed in the second region202 b′, and a dummy structure 240 c is formed on the isolation structure210. As shown in FIG. 2G, the dummy structure 240 c covers a portion ofthe first top surface 212 a, a portion of the second top surface 212 band the boundary between the first top surface 212 a and the second topsurface 212 b. Thereafter, a protecting layer 237 such as a resistprotective oxide (RPO) layer can be formed to cover a portion of thesecond device 240 b, a portion of the doped region 236 b and a portionof the drift region 220. Subsequently, a salicide layer 238 is formedover the exposed doped regions 236 a and 236 b, as shown in FIG. 2G. Insome embodiments, after the forming of the salicide layer 238, thepatterned hard masks 231 are removed.

At operation 107, a dielectric structure is formed over the substrate200 to cover the first device 240 a, the second device 240 b and thedummy structure 240 c. In some embodiments, the dielectric structure caninclude a contact etch stop layer (CESL) 242 and an inter layerdielectric (ILD) 244, as shown in FIG. 2H. In some embodiments, the CESL242 can include a material selected from silicon nitride, siliconcarbide, or other dielectric materials. In some embodiments, the ILD 244can be blanketly formed to a thickness sufficient to form a top surfacehigher than the top surfaces of first device 240 a, the second device240 b and the dummy structure 240 c. The ILD 244 may be formed of anoxide using, for example, flowable chemical vapor deposition (FCVD). TheILD 244 may also be a spin-on glass formed using spin-on coating. Insome embodiments, the ILD 244 may include phospho-silicate glass (PSG),boro-silicate glass (BSG), boron-doped phospho-silicate glass (BPSG),tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) oxide, TiN, SiOC, or other low-knon-porous dielectric materials.

At operation 108, a portion of the dielectric structure, a portion ofthe first device 240 a, a portion of the second device 240 b and aportion of the dummy structure 240 c are removed. As shown in FIG. 2I,in some embodiments, a planarization, such as a chemical mechanicalpolishing (CMP) operation, is performed to remove the portion of thedielectric structure, i.e., a portion of the ILD 244 and a portion ofthe CESL 242. The CMP is also performed to remove a portion of the firstsacrificial gate 232 a and a portion of the spacer 234 of the firstdevice 240 a, a portion of the second sacrificial gate 232 b and aportion of the spacer 234 of the second device 240 b, and a portion ofthe semiconductor layer 230 and a portion of the spacer 234 of the dummystructure 240 c. Consequently, a top surface of the first device 240 a,a top surface of the second device 240 b and a top surface of the dummystructure 240 c are aligned with each other, or at a same level, asshown in FIG. 2I.

Referring to FIG. 2J, in some embodiments, a dielectric layer 245 isformed over the dummy structure 240 c, but the first device 240 a in thefirst region 202 a and the second device 240 b in the second region 202b′ are exposed through the dielectric layer 245. The dielectric layer245 servers as a protective layer for providing protection during thesubsequent operations. In some embodiments, the dielectric layer 245 caninclude materials similar to the ILD 244, but the disclosure is notlimited thereto. A thickness of the dielectric layer 245 should be greatenough to endure the subsequent operation.

At operation 109, the first sacrificial gate 232 a and the secondsacrificial gate 232 b are removed. As shown in FIG. 2K, the firstsacrificial gate 232 a (i.e., the semiconductor layer 230) is removed toform a first gate trench 246 a in the first region 202 a, and the high-kgate dielectric layer 228 is exposed through a bottom of the first gatetrench 246 a. The second sacrificial gate 232 b (i.e., the semiconductorlayer 230) is removed to form a second gate trench 246 b in the secondregion 202W, and the high-k gate dielectric layer 228 is exposed througha bottom of the second gate trench 246 b. In contrast to the portion ofthe semiconductor layer 230 in the first and second regions 202 a and202 b′, which are removed, the semiconductor layer 230 over theisolation structure 210 (i.e., over the portion of the first top surface212 a, the portion of the second top surface 212 b and the boundarybetween the first top surface 212 a and the second top surface 212 b) isprotected by the dielectric layer 245.

At operation 110, a first metal gate 248 a is formed in the first gatetrench 246 a and a second metal gate 248 b is formed in the second gatetrench 246 b, as shown in FIG. 2L. In some embodiments, the first metalgate 248 a and/or the second metal gate 248 b can include at least abarrier metal layer, a work functional metal layer and a gap-fillingmetal layer. The barrier metal layer can include, for example but notlimited to, TiN. The work function metal layer can include a singlelayer of TiN, TaN, TaAlC, TiC, TaC, Co, Al, TiAl, HfTi, TiSi, TaSi orTiAlC, or a multilayer of two or more of these materials, but is notlimited thereto. For the n-channel FET, one or more of TaN, TaAlC, TiN,TiC, Co, TiAl, HfTi, TiSi and TaSi is used as the work function metallayer, and for the p-channel FET, one or more of TiAlC, Al, TiAl, TaN,TaAlC, TiN, TiC and Co is used as the work function metal layer. In someembodiments, the gap-filling metal layer can include conductive materialsuch as Al, Cu, AlCu, or W, but is not limited to the above-mentionedmaterials. In some embodiments, another planarization such as CMP isperformed to remove superfluous metal materials and the dielectric layer245. Accordingly, a top surface of the first metal gate 248 a, a topsurface of the metal gate 248 b, a top surface of the dummy structure240 c and a top surface of the dielectric structure (including the CESL242 and the ILD 244) are aligned with each other, or at the same level.However, a thickness of the second metal gate 248 b is greater than athickness of the first metal gate 248 a. Further, the dummy structure240 c may include a first portion 241-1 and a second portion 241-2coupled to each other. A thickness of the first portion 241-1 is similarto the thickness of the first metal gate 248 a and a thickness of thesecond portion 241-2 is similar to the thickness of the second metalgate 248 b, as shown in FIG. 2L.

Referring to FIG. 2M, in some embodiments, another ILD 250 may be formedover the substrate 200, and contact structures 252 may be formed in theILD 250 and the ILD 244. Further, the contact structures 252 maypenetrate the ILDs 250 and 244, such that the contact structures 252 arecoupled to the doped regions 236 a and 236 b for providing electricalconnection between the first and second devices 240 a and 240 b andother devices.

Accordingly, an integrated circuit 20 is provided. Please refer to FIGS.3, 4 and 2M, wherein FIGS. 3 and 4 are top views illustrating anintegrated circuit layout structure according to aspects of the presentdisclosure, and FIG. 2M is a cross-sectional view taken along linesA-A′, B-B′ and C-C′ of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. The integrated circuit 20includes a substrate 200, where the substrate 200 can be an SOIsubstrate including a semiconductor bulk 204, a semiconductor layer 208and a dielectric layer 206 between the semiconductor bulk 204 and thesemiconductor layer 208. A first region 202 a and a second region 202 b′are defined in the substrate 200. In some embodiments, the second region202 b′ is a recessed region such that a top surface of the substrate 200in the second region 202 b′ is lower than a top surface of the substrate200 in the first region 202 a. In some embodiments, the first region 202a can be used to accommodate LV devices while the second region 202 b′can be used to accommodate HV devices, and therefore the first region202 a can be referred to as an LV region and the second region 202 b′can be referred to as an HV region.

Further, the substrate 200 includes an isolation structure 210 disposedin the substrate 200 and separating the first region 202 a from thesecond region 202 b′. As shown in FIG. 2M, the isolation structure 210has a first top surface 212 a and a second top surface 212 b lower thanthe first top surface 212 a. As mentioned above, the first top surface212 a of the isolation structure 210 and the top surface of thesubstrate 200 in the first region 202 a are aligned with each other, orare at the same level, while the second top surface 212 b of theisolation structure 210 and the top surface of the substrate 200 in thesecond region 202 b′ are aligned with each other, or are at the samelevel. As shown in FIG. 2B, a step height H is formed at a boundarybetween the first top surface 212 a and the second top surface 212 b ofthe isolation structure 210, and the step height H is also formedbetween the first region 202 a and the second region 202 b′ of thesubstrate 200. In some embodiments, the step height H is equal to orgreater than the sum of the thickness of the semiconductor layer 208 andthe thickness of the dielectric layer 206, but the disclosure is notlimited thereto.

The integrated circuit 20 includes a first device 240 a in the firstregion 202 a and a second device 240 b in the second region 202W. Insome embodiments, the first device 240 a can be an LV device while thesecond device 240 b can be an HV device, but the disclosure is notlimited thereto. Further, the integrated circuit 20 includes asemiconductor dummy structure 240 c disposed on the isolation structure210. As shown in FIG. 2M, the semiconductor dummy structure 240 c coversa portion of the first top surface 212 a, a portion of the second topsurface 212 b, and the boundary between the first top surface 212 a andthe second top surface 212 b. In some embodiments, the semiconductordummy structure 240 c is a frame-like structure. In some embodiments,the frame-like semiconductor dummy structure 240 c surrounds the firstregion 202 a, as shown in FIG. 3. In other embodiments, the frame-likesemiconductor dummy structure 240 c surrounds the second region 202W, asshown in FIG. 4. A portion of the frame-like semiconductor dummystructure 240 c is disposed between the first region 202 a and thesecond region 202W, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 2M. A width of theframe-like semiconductor dummy structure 240 c is less than a width of aportion of the isolation structure 210 between the first region 202 aand the second region 202W, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Further, thewidth of the frame-like semiconductor dummy structure 240 c is greaterthan a width of the first device 240 a and a width of the second device240 b, as shown in FIG. 2M.

Still referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, in some embodiments, the integratedcircuit 20 further includes a frame-like doped region 214 disposed inthe substrate 100. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the frame-like dopedregion 214 may surround the second region 202 b′ and serve as a guardring for the HV devices in the second region 202 b′. In someembodiments, the doped region 214 is separated from the second region202 b′ by another isolation structure, though not shown. In someembodiments, the frame-like semiconductor dummy structure 240 c isdisposed on the isolation structure 210 and surrounds the first region202 a. Further, the frame-like semiconductor dummy structure 240 c isoffset from the doped region 214, as shown in FIG. 3. In otherembodiments, the frame-like semiconductor dummy structure 240 c isdisposed on the isolation structure 210 but surrounds both of the secondregion 202 b′ and the doped region 214. Further, the frame-likesemiconductor dummy structure 240 c is offset from the doped region 214,as shown in FIG. 4.

Referring back to FIG. 2M, in some embodiments, the first device 240 aincludes a first metal gate 248 a, a high-k gate dielectric layer 228under the first metal gate 248 a, an IL 226 under the high-k gatedielectric layer 228, and doped regions 236 a and 236 b. The seconddevice 240 b includes a second metal gate 248 b, a high-k gatedielectric layer 228 under the second metal gate 248 b, an IL 226 underthe high-k gate dielectric layer 228, and doped regions 236 a and 236 b.In contrast to the first device 240 a and the second device 240 b, thesemiconductor dummy structure 240 c includes a semiconductor layer 230and a high-k gate dielectric layer 228 under the semiconductor layer230. The first device 240 a further includes a spacer 234 disposed oversidewalls of the first metal gate 248 a, the high-k gate dielectriclayer 228 and the IL 226. The second device 240 b further includes aspacer 234 disposed over sidewalls of the second metal gate 248 b, thehigh-k gate dielectric layer 228 and the IL 226. The semiconductor dummystructure 240 c further includes a spacer 234 disposed over sidewalls ofthe semiconductor layer 230 and the high-k gate dielectric layer 228.Accordingly, the high-k gate dielectric layer 228 of the semiconductordummy structure 240 c is entirely enclosed within the semiconductorlayer 230 and the spacer 234, as shown in FIG. 2M.

A thickness of the second device 240 b is greater than a thickness ofthe first device 240 a. The semiconductor dummy structure 240 c includesa first portion 241-1 and a second portion 241-2 coupled to each other,a thickness of the first portion 241-1 is similar to a thickness of thefirst device 240 a in the first region 202 a, and a thickness of thesecond portion 241-2 is similar to a thickness of the second device 240b in the second region 202W. Because the thickness of the second device240 b is greater than the thickness of the first device 240 a, thethickness of the second portion 241-2 of the semiconductor dummystructure 240 c is greater the thickness of the first portion 241-1 ofthe semiconductor dummy structure 240 c. Accordingly, top surfaces ofthe first device 240 a, the semiconductor dummy structure 240 c and thesecond device 240 b are aligned with each other, or at a same level.

In some embodiments, a width of the second device 240 b is greater thana width of the first device 240 a, and a width of the semiconductordummy structure 240 c is greater than the widths of both the firstdevice 240 a and the second device 240 b. In some embodiments, the widthof the semiconductor dummy structure 240 c is greater than 2 times aminimum critical dimension (CD) of the integrated circuit. As mentionedabove, the critical dimension (or the design rule limitation) definesthe minimum width of a line or the minimum space between two linespermitted in the fabrication of devices. As mentioned above, if thewidth of the semiconductor dummy structure 240 c (i.e., thesemiconductor layer 230) is less than 2 times the minimum criticaldimension of the integrated circuit 20, the high-k material may be leftover the boundary between the first top surface 212 a and the second topsurface 212 b when the semiconductor dummy structure 240 c is formedoffset from the boundary due to process variation such as misalignment.Thus, the unwanted high-k residue issue occurs.

Please refer to FIG. 5, which is a cross-sectional view illustrating anintegrated circuit according to aspects of the present disclosure. Itshould be noted that same elements in FIGS. 2M and 5 are indicated bythe same numerals, and details of the same elements shown in FIGS. 2Mand 5 are omitted in the description of FIG. 5 for brevity. In someembodiments, the integrated circuit 20 includes another isolationstructure 216 disposed in the second region 202 b′. The isolationstructure 216 can be an STI or a field oxide (FOX). As shown in FIG. 5,a portion of the second metal gate 248 b and a portion of the high-kgate dielectric layer 228 cover a portion of the isolation structure216.

The present disclosure therefore provides a boundary scheme for theintegration of HV SOI devices and LV SOI devices with HKMG technology.In some embodiments, the present disclosure therefore provides aboundary scheme for the integration of HV SOI devices and LV SOI deviceswith high-k first and gate-last technology. In some embodiments, a dummystructure such as the semiconductor dummy structure is disposed on theboundary between the regions for accommodating the HV and LV devices.The semiconductor dummy structure is provided to entirely seal thehigh-k dielectric material that may be generated during themanufacturing operations, and thus the high-k residue contamination canbe mitigated. Further, the method for forming the semiconductor dummystructure is compatible with and can be easily integrated in themanufacturing operations for SOI technology, HKMG technology and HV-LVintegration.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, an integratedcircuit is provided. The integrated circuit includes a substrate havinga first region and a second region, a first isolation structure disposedin the substrate and separating the first region from the second region,a first device disposed in the first region, a second device disposed inthe second region, and a semiconductor dummy structure disposed on thefirst isolation structure. The first isolation structure has first topsurface and a second top surface lower than the first top surface. Insome embodiments, the semiconductor dummy structure covers a portion ofthe first top surface, a portion of the second top surface and aboundary between the first top surface and the second top surface.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, an integratedcircuit layout structure is provided. The integrated circuit layoutstructure include a substrate having a low voltage (LV) region and ahigh voltage (HV) region, an LV device disposed in the LV region and anHV device disposed in the HV region, an isolation structure disposed inthe substrate and separating the LV region from the HV region, and aframe-like semiconductor dummy structure disposed on the isolationstructure. In some embodiments, a portion of the frame-likesemiconductor dummy structure is disposed between the LV region and theHV region. In some embodiments, a width of the frame-like semiconductordummy structure is less than a width of a portion of the isolationstructure between the LV region and the HV region. In some embodiments,the width of the frame-like semiconductor dummy structure is greaterthan a width of the LV device and a width of the HV device.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method forforming an integrated circuit is provided. The method includes followingoperations. A substrate having a first region, a second region and anisolation structure separating the first region from the second regionis received. A portion of the substrate is removed such that the secondregion is recessed, and a portion of the isolation structure is removedsuch that the isolation structure obtains a first top surface, a secondtop surface lower than the first top surface, and a boundary between thefirst top surface and the second top surface. A first device is formedin the first region, a second device is formed in the second region, anda dummy structure is formed over a portion of the first top surface, aportion of the second top surface, and the boundary between the firsttop surface and the second top surface. A dielectric structure is formedover the substrate to cover the first device, the second device and thedummy structure. A portion of the dielectric structure, a portion of thefirst device, a portion of the second device and a portion of the dummystructure are removed such that a top surface of the first device, a topsurface of the second device and a top surface of the dummy structureare aligned with each other.

The foregoing outlines features of several embodiments so that thoseskilled in the art may better understand the aspects of the presentdisclosure. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they mayreadily use the present disclosure as a basis for designing or modifyingother processes and structures for carrying out the same purposes and/orachieving the same advantages of the embodiments introduced herein.Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalentconstructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the presentdisclosure, and that they may make various changes, substitutions, andalterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of thepresent disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. An integrated circuit comprising: a substratecomprising a first region and a second region; a first isolationstructure disposed in the substrate and separating the first region fromthe second region, wherein the first isolation structure has a first topsurface and a second top surface lower than the first top surface; afirst device disposed in the first region; a second device disposed inthe second region; and a semiconductor dummy structure disposed on thefirst isolation structure, wherein the semiconductor dummy structurecovers a portion of the first top surface, a portion of the second topsurface and a boundary between the first top surface and the second topsurface.
 2. The integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein the semiconductordummy structure comprises a first portion and a second portion coupledto each other, a thickness of the first portion is similar to athickness of the first device in the first region, and a thickness ofthe second portion is similar to a thickness of the second device in thesecond region.
 3. The integrated circuit of claim 2, wherein thethickness of the second device is greater than a thickness of the firstdevice, and the thickness of the second portion of the semiconductordummy structure is greater the thickness of the first portion of thesemiconductor dummy structure.
 4. The integrated circuit of claim 1,wherein a top surface of the first device, a top surface of the seconddevice and a top surface of the semiconductor dummy structure arealigned with each other.
 5. The integrated circuit of claim 1, whereinthe first device comprises a first metal gate and a first high-k gatedielectric layer under the first metal gate, the second device comprisesa second metal gate and a second high-k gate dielectric layer under thesecond metal gate, and the semiconductor dummy structure comprises asemiconductor layer and a third high-k gate dielectric layer under thesemiconductor layer.
 6. The integrated circuit of claim 5, wherein thesemiconductor dummy structure further comprises a spacer disposed oversidewalls of the semiconductor layer and sidewalls of the third high-kgate dielectric layer such that the third high-k gate dielectric layeris entirely enclosed within the semiconductor layer and the spacer. 7.The integrated circuit of claim 5, further comprising a second isolationstructure disposed in the second region, wherein a portion of the of thesecond metal gate and a portion of the second high-k gate dielectriclayer cover a portion of the second isolation structure.
 8. Theintegrated circuit of claim 1, wherein a step height is formed at theboundary between the first top surface and the second top surface of thefirst isolation structure, and between the first region and the secondregion of the substrate.
 9. The integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein awidth of the semiconductor dummy structure is greater than 2 times aminimum critical dimension of the integrated circuit.
 10. An integratedcircuit layout structure, comprising: a substrate comprising a lowvoltage (LV) region and a high voltage (HV) region; an LV devicedisposed in the LV region and an HV device disposed in the HV region; anisolation structure disposed in the substrate and surrounding andseparating the LV region from the HV region; and a frame-likesemiconductor dummy structure disposed on the isolation structure,wherein a portion of the frame-like semiconductor dummy structure isdisposed between the LV region and the HV region, a width of theframe-like semiconductor dummy structure is less than a width of aportion of the isolation structure between the LV region and the HVregion, and the width of the frame-like semiconductor dummy structure isgreater than a width of the LV device and a width of the HV device. 11.The integrated circuit layout structure of claim 10, wherein theframe-like semiconductor dummy structure surrounds the LV region. 12.The integrated circuit layout structure of claim 10, wherein theframe-like semiconductor dummy structure surrounds the HV region. 13.The integrated circuit layout structure of claim 10, further comprisinga doped region disposed in the substrate and surrounding the HV region.14. The integrated circuit layout structure of claim 13, wherein theframe-like semiconductor dummy structure surrounds the HV region and thedoped region. 15-20. (canceled)
 21. A semiconductor structurecomprising: a substrate comprising a LV region and a HV region; anisolation structure disposed in the substrate and separating the LVregion from the HV region; a LV device disposed in the LV region; a HVdevice disposed in the HV region; and a dummy structure disposed overthe isolation structure, wherein the dummy structure comprises a firstportion and a second portion couples to each other, a first height ofthe first portion is similar to a height of the LV device, and a secondheight of the second portion of the dummy structure is similar to aheight of the HV device, and the first height is less than the secondheight.
 22. The semiconductor structure of claim 21, wherein a topsurface of the LV device, a top surface of the HV device, a top surfaceof the first portion of the dummy structure, and a top surface of thesecond portion of the dummy structure are aligned with each other. 23.The semiconductor structure of claim 21, wherein a width of the dummystructure is greater than a width of the LV device and a width of the HVdevice.
 24. The semiconductor structure of claim 21, wherein a topsurface of the substrate in the first region is higher than a topsurface of the substrate in the second region.
 25. The semiconductorstructure of claim 21, wherein the LV device and the HV devicerespectively comprise a metal structure over a high-k gate dielectriclayer, and the dummy structure comprises a semiconductor structure overa high-k gate dielectric layer.
 26. The semiconductor structure of claim25, wherein dummy structure further comprises a spacer disposed oversidewalls of semiconductor structure and sidewalls of the high-k gatedielectric later such that high-k gate dielectric layer is entirelyenclosed within the semiconductor structure and the spacer.